Orchha

Orchha lies on the Betwa River amid the rocky hills and forests of Bundelkhand. Its palaces, temples and gardens formed the capital of the Bundela kings, who moved their seat here from Garh Kundar in the sixteenth century. The Raja Mahal and Jahangir Mahal rise above the river, their courtyards, domes and balconies combining Bundela and Mughal architectural forms. Nearby, the Ram Raja temple honours Rama as a king.

The town was founded by Rudra Pratap Singh and developed under his successors. Bir Singh Deo, who ruled from 1605 to 1627, was closely allied with the Mughal prince Salim. In 1602 Bir Singh ambushed and killed the imperial counsellor Abu’l Fazl at Salim’s instigation. When Salim became Emperor Jahangir, he installed Bir Singh as ruler of Orchha. The king was a prolific builder, and major work on the Jahangir Mahal took place during his reign.

Orchha’s relationship with the Mughal court combined service, patronage and conflict. Its palaces and gardens show the influence of imperial design, while preserving a distinctive Bundela character. Walled gardens and carefully arranged waterworks formed part of the setting of the royal buildings, alongside sacred groves and temple precincts. The ruling house later moved its capital to Tikamgarh in 1783, leaving the old monuments beside the Betwa as a lasting record of the dynasty’s ambitions.